Newspaper Page Text

Neighborhood group honors community
leaders as it celebrates 25th anniversary
BY FELEC1A PIGGOTT-LONG
PH.D.
FOR THE CHRONICI ,F
More than 150 resi
dents, members, partners,
stakeholders and support
ers of Neighbors for Better
Neighborhoods (NBN)
gathered at the McNeil
Banquet Hall in the
Anderson Center of
Winston-Salem State
University on Saturday,
June 6.
As Daryl Little and
Friends Band provided
background music, the
audience observed video
interviews honoring the
following community lead
ers: The Rev. Dr. John
Mendez, legacy leadership
honoree; Linda Sutton,
grassroots leadership hon
oree; Michael Clements for
outstanding board leader
ship; and Cleveland
Avenue Transformation
Team (CATT) for emerging
leadership.
The keynote speaker
for the gathering was Hazel
Mack, parent and founder
of Carter G. Woodson
School.
Organized in 1991, the
NBN was on public display
as the group honored com
munity leaders during their
fourth annual "We've Got
Roots" celebration.
"At NBN, we meet
people where they are, con
necting with strategic allies
for over 24 years. We have
leveraged community part
nerships across age, race,
gender and economic gaps,
and our roots connect with
Salem College, Wake
Forest University, and
Winston-Salem State
University," said Cornelius
Graves, board chairman.
"These institutions provide
us with student volunteers,
fresh ideas, different per
spectives, and a unique
blend of grassroots advoca
cy."
RaVonda Dalton-Rann,
mistress of ceremonies,
read the proclamation from
the City of Winston-Salem
designating the intersection
of Broad Street and Pilot
View Street downtown as
NBN Way. This honorary
street is marked near the
Augsburg Community
Center, where Neighbors
ft"" Better Neighborhoods
s resided for the past four
years.
In her speech. Mack
ocused on reminding the
audience of some impor
tant characteristics of NBN
members and supporters
alter 25 years of working
together just in case the
struggle "becomes mun
dane and tiring. Remember
our community has value
and worth. "Unlike those
who take advantage of
those who come to our
community, you under
stand that out community
has value. We can focus on
a litany of the things we do
not have. We can focus on
the high unemployment
rate or the food deserts, but
we must understand there
are other things you need to
take inventory of that are
Positive," Mack said.
'The love we have
among each other was
noticeable when I worked
in eastern Carolina's poor
areas. ... Also, we are a
God-fearing people at
heart. Thirdly, we are brave
and courageous in the face
of those who transgress
against .us. Courage!
Courage! Courage!" Mack
said.
"Remember money is
not the arbiter of all things.
As a teen in high school, I
joined the Black Panther
Party. We worked 24/7 in
the community. We had no
pay check . .We started a
free breakfast program. We
had time, energy, so much
more to offer. Think out
side the box. If you are tied
to the dollar, you will lose.
... We are who we have
been waiting for. ... We
must keep on resisting
what the media says Resist!
Resist! Resist! Never give
up!" Mack said.
John Gladman, NBN
board member, and Cindy
Smith Gordineer, president
and CEO of the United
Way, assisted with the pres
entation of the 2015
Awards.
*Honoree Michael
Clements served as the vice
president for community
investment at the Winston
Salem Foundation from
2007-2014. While serving
in this capacity, he directed
both the Scholarship and
Grants Departments at the
Foundation. Dalton-Rann
described Clements as "one
of the most courageous
brothers I have ever met.
He can join a group and
become more than a part of
it." Clements gave much
honor to those who helped
to keep the NBN going for
the past 25 years.
?The Rev. Dr. John
Mendez was honored for
his legacy of service.
"I am humbled and
challenged by this award. L
seldom think about what I
do, I just do it. Going back
to my teen years, my wife,
Sarah, and I tried to make a
difference, but this award is
special to me because none
compares when grassroots
people recognize and honor
you because throughout all
these years, we have fought
for people who did not
deserve t? be oppressed, or
discriminated against, did
not deserve to be treated
like they did not matter,"
Mendez said.
?Honoree Linda Sutton
received the grassroots
recognition, having been
active in the community
since the early 1970s as a
union organizer and special
voter registration commis
sioner.
"People say that I can
always convince others to
get involved. I continue to
fight for the vote because I
believe in democracy. 1
believe, like Lyndon B.
Johnson, that the vote is a
powerful thing!" Sutton
said. "
?The CATT members
of the Cleveland Avenue
Transformation Team
received the award for
emerging leadership. This
group includes Donald
Becoat, Kathy Carter,
James Hayes, Quashima
Keoner, Michael Long,
Shakema Nash, Shannon
Niivens, Kywon Roberts,
DeMarco Slappy, Jermical
Slappy, Robin Slappy,
Keshi Wisley, Marquita
Wisley, Renai Wisely, and
Mattie Young. These resi
dents from Cleveland
Avenue Homes completed
the NBN's Neighbors in
Action Leadership
Development Program to
make certain they were
prepared to be actively
r
engaged in the Choice
Neighborhood Planning
Initiative. They wanted to
ensure their involvement in
the planning process and
create a new and inclusive
neighborhood association
UJS.421 PAVEMENT
REHABILITATION, REPLACEMENT OF BRIDGE NUMBERS
178,278,286,288,291,293,
305,312,313,336 AND
VARIOUS SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS
From West of Fourth Street to East of
Church Street in Winston-Salem
STIP Project No. U-2827B
The Federal Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the U.S. 421
Pavement Rehabilitation, Replacement of Bridge Numbers 178,278,286,
288,291,293,305,312,313,336 and Various Safety Improvements Busi
ness (commonly referred to as Business 40) from west of Fourth Street
to east of Church Street in Winston-Salem has been completed. This doc
ument is available for public review at the following locations:
Winston-Salem Forsyth
UA MPO
City of Winston-Salem -
Bryce A Stuart
Municipal Building
100 East First Street,
Suite 307
Winston-Salem
NCDOT Division Office
375 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem
?Forsyth County Government*Center
North Carolina Room of the
Central Library
201 North Chestnut Street,
2nd Floor
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem State University
C.G. O'Kelly Library -
Main Circulation Desk
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem
The document may also be viewed on the project website at www.busi
ness40nc.com
Questions regarding the FONSI should be submitted to: Michael Penney,
PE, Project Development and Environmental Analysis Unit, North Carolina
Department of Transportation, 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-1548, phone (919)707-6619, or email mpenney@ncdot.gov.
* Please note: the Forsyth County Central Library is closed for renovations.
The North Carolina Room is temporarily housed at the Forsyth County
Government Center.
The Chronicle June 4,11,2015
Submitted photos
The Cleveland Avenue Transformation Team
(CATT) received honors at the "We've Got Roots"
celebration.
(L-R) "We've Got Roots" honoree the Rev. Dr. John
Mendez, Executive Director Paula McCoy, hon
oree Linda Sutton, keynote speaker Hazel Mack,
and honoree Michael Clements take a break at the
celebration. Honorees received plaques for their
service.
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